74 percent voter turnout in Ayer

AYER -- Ayer saw a 74 percent turnout of its 4,976 registered voters on Tuesday for the Presidential-cycle election. Ayer's vote tallies tracked closely with the final outcome in various races.

Fifty-five percent of Ayer voters chose to return President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden to office. Among the Obama supporters were husband and wife Doug and Dawn Wilson

"Because I don't want Mitt to be president," laughed Doug Wilson. The two said they voted for Democratic candidates down the ballot.

"Obama!" declared M. Diaz as he left the polls. Though unenrolled, Diaz said he also voted for Obama in 2008. "He started something. He has to finish it."

Melissa Tomyl voted for Obama. "I have an alternative lifestyle and I don't believe Mitt Romney is going to keep his word. I have two kids. So that's why. We had Mitt Romney as governor and he didn't do a heck of a lot for us. If he can't do it as governor, how's he going to do it as president?"

Tomyl had her son and daughter in tow. Her daughter favored Romney and her son favored Obama. Tomyl said it was important to her to bring her children to the polls.

"I told him the first thing I did when I turned 18 was to register to vote," said Tomyl, gesturing toward her son. "Living in the United States, they have to realize that if they were other places in this world, they may not have that right."

"I like him, he's very down to earth and I like what he stands for," said Linda Garrier about Obama.

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"I agree with all his policies."

Gerrior's significant other, Kermit Morris, also voted for Obama though he said he's not beholden to one party or another. "I vote for who I think is best for the country."

"I think he's against big businesses and for the middle class and poor people," said Morris. Morris, a member of the United Steel Workers union, said he voted for Obama in 2008 as well. Gerrior and Morris said they also voted for Elizabeth Warren for U.S. Senate.

The couple disagreed, however, about campaign ads. Gerrior was sick of them.

"It's unbelievable. TV, the phones - I check my caller ID before I answer," said Gerrior. "They've been ringing off the hook. More so this year."

But Morris smiled and said he enjoyed political advertising. "They teach me certain things about what candidates have done that I might not know. I just find it fascinating."

"Mitt is it!," said Bob Carter. Though he's otherwise unenrolled, Carter said he voted for Romney. "I don't want Obama because of his foreign policy and the way he treats the military. We can't afford him anymore."

Bob Carter said he was sick of the political ads. "And the lies," added his wife Laurie Carter.

"I think every single one of them lie," said Laurie Carter. "They say they're going to do this and they're going to do that and nothing gets done." She said she also voted for Romney.

Dorothy McSorley was enthusiastic about her vote for Romney and said she'd previously voted for Romney for governor. "We can't take any more of this. We need the change. He's a wonderful man. He's got morals and principals and I hope he's the winner tonight."

Ayer also chose to re-elect Cong. NIki Tsongas, giving her 60 percent of the Ayer vote over her Republican challenger Jonathan Golnik. It was a rematch between the two following the 2010 election. Tsongas has served with the Massachusetts delegation since 2007.

Groton Republican Sheila Harrington was unopposed in her race to return to the House. Ayer will also be represented by Lunenburg Democrat Jennifer Benson. Benson, likewise, was unopposed.

On the state ballot questions, 78 percent of Ayer voters agreed on the right-to-repair bill. The state passed the measure with 85 percent of the Massachusetts vote.

Ayer narrowly said 'no' to the right to die, assisted suicide question. Statewide the results were too close to call as we went to press on Wednesday. Ayer said no (49 percent) and the state tally seemed to trend towards a 51 percent 'no' vote statewide.

And on the non-binding Citizens United question, 64 percent of Ayer voters said yes that the landmark case needed to be overturned and that corporations should not be treated as individuals in terms of campaign contributions.

Ayer has 4,976 registered voters. On Tuesday, 3,665 Ayer voters cast a ballot, for a 74 percent turnout. Town Clerk John Canney said he was pleasantly surprised to see a long line of voters cued up and snaked throughout Ayer Town Hall before the polls opened in the second floor Great Hall at 7 a.m. "I wish I had a camera," said Canney. The Ayer vote was tallied and finalized at 10:30 p.m., Canney said.

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